Carter County, Kentucky

Carter County
County
Carter County courthouse in Grayson
Carter County courthouse in Grayson
Map of Kentucky highlighting Carter County
Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
Map of the United States highlighting Kentucky
Kentucky's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°20′N 83°03′W / 38.33°N 83.05°W / 38.33; -83.05
Country United States
State Kentucky
Founded1838
Named forWilliam Grayson Carter
SeatGrayson
Largest cityGrayson
Area
 • Total412 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Land409 sq mi (1,060 km2)
 • Water2.6 sq mi (7 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total26,627
 • Estimate 
(2023)
26,366 Decrease
 • Density65/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts4th, 5th
Websitecartercounty.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,627.[1] Its county seat is Grayson.[2] Carter County is in the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is home to Carter Caves State Resort Park.

History

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Carter County was formed on February 9, 1838, from portions of Greenup County and Lawrence County.[3] It was named after Colonel William Grayson Carter, a Kentucky state Senator.[4] The county seat is named for his uncle, Robert Grayson.[5]

The original courthouse was rebuilt in 1907.[6]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 412 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 409 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.6%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18402,905—
18506,241114.8%
18608,51636.5%
18707,509−11.8%
188012,34564.4%
189017,20439.4%
190020,22817.6%
191021,9668.6%
192022,4742.3%
193023,8396.1%
194025,5457.2%
195022,559−11.7%
196020,817−7.7%
197019,850−4.6%
198025,06026.2%
199024,340−2.9%
200026,88910.5%
201027,7203.1%
202026,627−3.9%
2023 (est.)26,366[8]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2021[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,889 people, 10,342 households, and 7,746 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 per square mile (25/km2). There were 11,534 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.02% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,342 households, out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 22.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 10.80% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,427, and the median income for a family was $31,278. Males had a median income of $28,690 versus $20,554 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,442. About 19.20% of families and 22.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.90% of those under age 18 and 21.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Carter County leaned increasingly Republican during the 2010s, with Donald Trump dramatically shifting it to the right in 2016. In 8 out of 28 presidential elections since 1912 has the Democratic candidate carried this county, even though they carried it three times in a row from 1988 to 1996.

United States presidential election results for Carter County, Kentucky[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 8,981 78.64% 2,305 20.18% 134 1.17%
2020 8,775 75.74% 2,642 22.80% 169 1.46%
2016 7,587 73.82% 2,276 22.14% 415 4.04%
2012 5,279 59.26% 3,383 37.98% 246 2.76%
2008 5,252 53.52% 4,316 43.98% 245 2.50%
2004 5,422 48.77% 5,577 50.17% 118 1.06%
2000 4,617 51.53% 4,182 46.68% 160 1.79%
1996 3,240 41.69% 3,728 47.97% 803 10.33%
1992 3,305 38.61% 4,224 49.35% 1,031 12.04%
1988 4,325 48.36% 4,570 51.10% 49 0.55%
1984 4,656 53.67% 3,985 45.94% 34 0.39%
1980 3,934 50.18% 3,782 48.25% 123 1.57%
1976 3,185 44.65% 3,915 54.89% 33 0.46%
1972 4,082 60.68% 2,591 38.52% 54 0.80%
1968 3,234 49.67% 2,344 36.00% 933 14.33%
1964 2,821 40.37% 4,136 59.20% 30 0.43%
1960 4,956 58.76% 3,479 41.24% 0 0.00%
1956 5,127 62.09% 3,112 37.68% 19 0.23%
1952 4,221 58.12% 3,019 41.57% 22 0.30%
1948 3,472 52.61% 3,082 46.70% 46 0.70%
1944 4,117 60.01% 2,733 39.84% 10 0.15%
1940 4,520 56.88% 3,403 42.83% 23 0.29%
1936 4,372 55.98% 3,403 43.57% 35 0.45%
1932 4,376 48.51% 4,565 50.61% 79 0.88%
1928 5,342 68.73% 2,392 30.77% 39 0.50%
1924 4,472 61.50% 2,552 35.10% 247 3.40%
1920 4,595 61.98% 2,757 37.19% 62 0.84%
1916 2,818 58.48% 1,954 40.55% 47 0.98%
1912 1,174 28.64% 1,506 36.74% 1,419 34.62%

Education

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Alcohol sales

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Carter County is a moist county, meaning that sale of alcohol in the county is prohibited except in certain areas as voted on by the residents of the area, with at least one area approving full retail alcohol sales. In the case of Carter County, alcohol sales are only permitted as follows:

  • At a single approved winery in the Iron Hill precinct, near the unincorporated community of Carter City.
  • Within the city of Grayson after a vote on June 11, 2013, approved full retail alcohol sales within the city limits by a vote of 511 in favor of alcohol sales to 393 against.[14][15][16]
  • Within the city of Olive Hill after a vote on March 10, 2014, approved full retail alcohol sales within the city limits by a vote of 257 in favor of alcohol sales to 206 against.[17]

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Transportation

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Carter County is accessible by U.S. Route 60 and Interstate 64.[18] Until 2010, the city of Olive Hill owned an airport.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Rennick, Robert M. (1987). Kentucky Place Names. University Press of Kentucky. p. 52. ISBN 0813126312. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  4. ^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. pp. 34.
  5. ^ "Historical Views Of Carter County" (PDF). Printworks Unlimited, Grayson, KY. 2007. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 24, 2010.
  6. ^ Hogan, Roseann Reinemuth (1992). Kentucky Ancestry: A Guide to Genealogical and Historical Research. Ancestry Publishing. p. 212. ISBN 9780916489496. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
  14. ^ The Next Step: Grayson council has the task of controlling alcohol sales.
  15. ^ Grayson takes the first step toward alcohol sales.
  16. ^ Council approves equipment purchases.
  17. ^ Olive Hill Votes Wet
  18. ^ kytc.maps.arcgis.com http://kytc.maps.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=9539ce58046c4890867ae2c0bea8882c. Retrieved April 19, 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ^ "Proud Past~ Hope for the Future Olive Hill, Kentucky Long Term Community Recovery Plan". City of Olive Hill. February 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
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Media related to Carter County, Kentucky at Wikimedia Commons

38°20′N 83°03′W / 38.33°N 83.05°W / 38.33; -83.05

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